Post by on Sept 17, 2016 10:25:33 GMT -5

I know Steve will replay to your kind comments and support. Great Great people you are! He took a fall about 1/2 way thru that knocked out his DeLorme but I have been documenting his journeys as his virtual follower on his 'Fastpacking the Long Trail' facebook page.

He finished early this morning! Total time: 6 days, 23 hours, 33 minutes.

Post by mikel on Sept 17, 2016 19:58:23 GMT -5

I'll be heading out for a SOBO attempt at around 4am on Monday, the 19th. Not sure if I can come anywhere close to Travis' time, but I've got 7 days off and nothing to do but hike as fast as I can. I'll be posting links to my spot and suunto movescount data, along with a report about my experience even (especially) if unsuccessful.

Congrats to Steve for the amazing time. Hope you try again, you're so close.

Post by swillhiker on Sept 19, 2016 11:25:14 GMT -5

Hi, all. Thanks for the kind words and for following along! I'm very happy with my time and really pleased to be anywhere close to Travis's efforts. That trail is certainly no joke! The 6d23h33m time is and will likely remain my PR. I can't imagine putting myself through that again. Best of luck to those that are headed out in the future!

Post by mikel on Aug 17, 2017 19:19:02 GMT -5

So I'll be heading out again this year, on Saturday (8/19). Planned start time is ~4am.

I just realized my recap from last year never posted, I must have had a bad connection when i did it. Only made it Hazens Notch last year. Unfortunately I got sick the day before heading off, and it only got worse as the first day wore on. I was having a lot of problems with my lungs, and couldn't move uphill at more than 1.5mph... even reasonable grades. I also overloaded my fancy ultralight pack, and broke the sternum straps... that sucked. So anyway, the trail kicked my ass last year.

Post by eliburakian on Aug 22, 2017 16:13:35 GMT -5

Hi all. I realized I never followed up after my attempt last year. Didn't go so well and bailed on day 3. Took a nasty fall on day 1 and went in super sleep deprived as I had a 3 week old infant at the time.

Anyways, I'll be going for the unsupported FKT again this year. I'll be beginning (weather permitting) on Sept. 10. I'll have my Garmin Inreach with me and I'll post a link prior to embarking on this adventure.

Post by mikel on Aug 23, 2017 2:58:17 GMT -5

Well that didn't go as intended, haha. The Long Trail officially kicked my ass once again.

I had a great time out there, but the mud, especially on day 1 with the rain, is ridiculous up there right now (and I'm pretty familiar with vermont mud).

I started pretty well. It was rainy off and on all day... more on than off. But I was making decent times considering the conditions. I planned to get into Spruce Ledge, maybe a bit late though. But by the time I got to Hazens my feet were pretty wrecked. I trained quite a bit in wet weather, and don't normally get major blisters with wet feet all day. I didn't train with Vermont mud in my socks all day though. Started having major issues coming down Jay, and called the day early at Hazens.

I thought if I let my feet dry out and went to bed early, I could wake up very early and make up some time. In the morning, though, I could barely stand on them. I eventually got out of camp, but by that time there was no real chance to catch up without doing some monster early 24 hour stretch or something. And while I was able to walk, or hobble, down the trail... I definitely wasn't going to be able to average 2-3mph. So I just went slow and enjoyed myself.

I hoped things would improve as the trail dried out a bit, but they unfortunately didn't. I got to my day 1 goal at the end of day 3, oops. The trail conditions really improve around Spruce Ledge, and the scenery is fantastic... but by that time I was getting worried about infection (the pain was becoming the not-good kind) and had my mind set on some Pizza in Johnson. So I went down my own quitters road, The Davis Neighborhood Path out of Corliss and into town. Ended up getting a piece of shitty gas station pizza because I couldn't resist on the way by, and it was amazing. Then I had a fantastic bbq burger and fries at Wicked Wings.

Even with the epic failure I had a great time. Im gonna let my feet heal for a few days, then I'll be out hiking... training for next time. I might take next year off, try a small ultra or two next summer. But I'll be back. I don't even know why, but I will.

And of course, thanks to Travis for setting such a crazy time and putting the bar so high. I wasn't thanking him when I was out there, I was using other words. But that record has pushed me further than I ever thought I could go.

Good luck with your attempt eliburakian. I'll be following along,

Has anyone set a record for slowest unsupported thru? Maybe I'll take a crack at that one.

Post by alicia on Aug 23, 2017 21:26:26 GMT -5

Nice job Mikel. A friend who goes up to Vermont often for mountain biking was just telling me how bad the mud is this year, even by Vermont standards. It made me slightly less depressed that I'm not going to be able to get out on the trail this year!

Post by eliburakian on Sept 25, 2017 15:23:43 GMT -5

Alas, although it was quite an adventure, Travis' record is super stout. I got a bit sick on days 3 and 4 and couldn't put down any calories. Looks like I'll have to give it a go another year! I finished in 8 days 14 hours.